Suleiman the magnificentCaliph of Islam

Amir al-Mu'mininSultan of the Ottoman Empire

Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques

“But in this world a spell of health is the best state.What men call sovereignty is a worldly strife and constant war;Worship of God is the highest throne, the happiest of all estates”

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Biography

Suleiman 1, 

also known as; Suleiman the Magnificent in the west and "Kanuni" (the Lawgiver) in the East, was the tenth and longest-reigning Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, from 1520 to his death in 1566.Also, referred to as the "Golden Age" of the Empire.

He became a prominent monarch of 16th-century Europe

Born: November 6, 1494; in Trabzon along the east coast of the Black Sea.

His father Selim I , was the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire from 1512 to 1520. Suleiman's father entrusted his son with the governorships of different regions within the Ottoman Empire from the age of seventeen. He was appointed as the governor of first Kaffa (Theodosia), then Sarukhan (Manisa), a brief tenure at Adrianople (now Edirne).

His mother was Ayşe Hafsa Sultan of Crimean Khanate. ( 1479 – 1534)

He was the sultan's only surviving son

Education:

At the age of 7, he studied at the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, where he learned theology, literature, science, history, and warfare. He became fluent in six languages: Ottoman Turkish, Arabic, Serbian, Chagatai Turkish (similar to Uighur), Farsi, and Urdu. Suleiman's tutors noted both his studious nature and his bravery from an early age.

As a young man, he befriended Pargali Ibrahim, a slave who later became one of his most trusted advisers.

Ascent to the Throne:

Upon the death of his father, Selim I (1465–1520), Suleiman ascended to the throne as the tenth Ottoman Sultan. Although he was of twenty six years of age, his mother served as co-regent.

An early description of Suleiman, a few weeks following his accession, was provided by the Venetian envoy Bartolomeo Contarini: “He is twenty-six years of age, tall, but wiry, and of a delicate complexion. His neck is a little too long, his face thin, and his nose aquiline. He has a shade of a mustache and a small beard; nevertheless he has a pleasant mien, though his skin tends to be a light pallor. He is said to be a wise Lord, fond of study, and all men hope for good from his rule."

Consorts and progeny:Suleiman had three known consorts:Gülfem Hatun;Mahidevran Sultan;Haseki Hürrem Sultan (m. 1531), Suleiman's legal wife.

Suleiman had eight children with his three consorts:Şehzade Murad – son with Gülfem (died shortly after birth)Şehzade Mustafa – son with Mahidevran, born 1515 (killed in 1553 on the Sultan's orders)Şehzade Mehmed – son with Hürrem, born 1521 (died in 1543)Mihrimah Sultan – daughter with Hürrem, born 1522 (died in 1578)Şehzade Abdullah – son with Hürrem, born 1522 (died in 1525)Sultan Selim II – son with Hürrem, born 1524 (died in 1574)Şehzade Bayezid – son with Hürrem, born 1525 (killed by his brother Selim with the support of his father in 1561)Şehzade Cihangir – son with Hürrem, born 1531 (died in 1553)

Consorts and progeny

Sehzade mustafa Sehzade Salim

Relationship with hürrem SultanWife of Suleyman, The Magnificent (ca 1558). One of the most outstanding examples of powerful women in the Ottoman Empire, Hurrem initiated the era of the "Sultanate of Women".

Like other members of the Harem from which she rose to power, Hurrem was originally a foreign girl, named Aleksandra Lisowska, born in Rohatyn city of the Kingdom of Poland back then which is in Ukraine today.

She was abducted as a slave girl after one of Suleyman's expeditions in the 1520's. Soon after she entered the Harem, she routed her competition for Suleyman's affections, and persuaded him to marry, after which her influence grew increasingly.

Her son Selim (The Sot), became the next Sultan, one of the Ottoman Empire's worst Besides Selim, she mothered three children who survived to adulthood; Bayezid (son), Mihrimah (daughter), and another son Cihangir (who was physically handicapped, which prohibited his ascension to the throne by law).When she died in 1558, she was buried in a large mausoleum next to her husband in the Suleymaniye Mosque complex in istanbul

Administrative reformWhile Sultan Suleiman was known as "The Magnificent" in the West, he was alwaysknown as Kanuni Suleiman or "The Lawgiver" to his ottoman subjects. At the dream ofexpanding his empire, Suleiman personally instituted legislative changes relating: Society Education Taxation Criminal Law

The legal code had two facets: Shari'ah Kanuns

Hundreds of Kanuns had accumulated making the legal code impossible to use, whichhim to work personally with the grand mufti at the time, Shaykh Al-Islam AbussuudEfendi. They managed to formulate an effective and simplified code of laws, known asthe Kanun-I Osmani (The Ottoman Laws) that served the Ottoman Empire for the next300 years. As for the reforms he did on taxes, which were a point of interest of Suleiman,he made sure to relieve many of his subjects of taxes and especially Christian Peasants

Ottoman miniature depicting the execution of Serbian rebels in Belgrade.

Suleiman the Magnificent receives an ambassador (painting by Matrakçı Nasuh).

Suleiman the magnificent “as a builder “ Sulaiman was a very powerful monarch of ottoman empire and he himself had very artistic side to his

personality. He not only developed his empire economically but also developed his empire culturally giving it a very

rich heritage which exists even now. He had a great hand in the making of the some of the most beautiful and breathtaking monuments of

turkey. During his reign his whole empire, especially Istanbul was on a raising period. He became a well known name for sponsoring not only magnificent monuments but also very important

bridges, dams and ports. During his reign, Istanbul was reconstructed and was restored with a better city plan in order to show the

world that Turkish have their own style of art and architecture. The greatest of the monuments and cultural establishments were made by his chief architect MIMAR

SINAN.

Some of the most important monuments of Suleiman’s era include

Suleymaniye Mosque Sehzadebasi Mosque Selimiye Mosque Cihangir Mosque

Suleymaniye Mosque

The Suleymaniye Mosque The Suleymaniye Mosque is an Ottoman imperial mosque located in 3rd hill of istanbul

turkey. It was constructed in the year 1558 by the architectural genius mimar sinan. The mosque stands on a height of 53 m with four minarets each of a height of 72 m. The mosque references the style of Byzantine chruch Hagia Sophia (now known as Aya

Sofya) It was designed as a complex to serve both cultural and religious needs. The original complex consisted of a hospital, primary school, four quran schools and a public

kitchen to feed the poor.

Architectural style The construction of the mosque started in 1550 and was finished in 1558. It consisted both architectural styles of Islamic and Byzantine culture It combines tall and slender minarets with large domed buildings supported by half domes. The design shows the representation of Suleiman’s representation of himself as the

“SECOND SOLOMON” and his historical importance. For the tour of The suleymaniye mosque, please watch- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IAatcTREuAA

Sehzadebasi Mosque

Location- Istanbul, TurkeyArchitect- Mimar Sinan

Interior of the mosque

Sehzadebasi Mosque• The construction of the Şehzade Complex was ordered by the Ottoman

Sultan Süleyman the Magnificent as a memorial to his favorite son Şehzade Mehmed (born 1520-1) who died in 1543 while returning to Istanbul after a victorious military campaign in Hungary.

• Exterior- The mosque is entered through a marble-paved colonnaded forecourt with an area equal to that of the mosque itself. he courtyard is bordered by a portico with five domed bays on each side, with arches in alternating pink and white marble. At the center is an ablution fountain (şadırvan), which was a later donation from Sultan Murat IV

• Interior- The interior of the Şehzade Mosque has a symmetrical plan, with the area under the central dome expanded by use of four semi-domes, one on each side, in the shape of a four leaf clover. This technique was not entirely successful, as it isolated the four huge piers needed to support the central dome, and was never again repeated by Sinan. The interior of the mosque has a very simple design, without galleries.

Selimiye Mosque

Suleiman’s achievements• At the age of seven he was sent to study science, history, literature, theology,

and military techniques in the schools of Istanbul.• Under Suleiman's patronage, the Ottoman Empire entered the golden age of

its cultural development. • Hundreds of imperial artistic societies (called the Ehl-i Hiref, "Community of the

Talented") were administered at the Imperial seat, the Topkapı Palace. • After an apprenticeship, artists and craftsmen could advance in rank within their

field and were paid commensurate wages in quarterly annual instalments.• Payroll registers that survive testify to the breadth of Suleiman's patronage of

the arts, the earliest of documents dating from 1526 list 40 societies with over 600 members

• After succeeding his father after his death, Suleiman began a series of military conquests, starting with the capture ofBelgrade in 1521. In 1522, he captured Rhodes after a siege, allowing the Knights Hospitaller (Knights of St. John, originally formed during the Crusades) to evacuate to Malta.

• Reference-

Suleiman’s achievements• Suleiman himself was an accomplished poet, writing in Persian and Turkish

under the takhallus Muhibbi (محبی, "Lover"). Some of his verses have become Turkish proverbs, such as the well-known Everyone aims at the same meaning, but many are the versions of the story.

• Suleiman also became renowned for sponsoring a series of monumental architectural developments within his empire.

• The Sultan sought to turn Constantinople into the center of Islamic civilization by a series of projects, including bridges, mosques, palaces and various charitable and social establishments.

• Suleiman also restored the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem and the Jerusalem city walls (which are the current walls of the Old City of Jerusalem), renovated the Kaaba in Mecca, and constructed a complex in Damascus.

• He earned his nickname “the Lawmaker” from his complete reconstruction of the Ottoman law system. He acted against corrupt officials, especially those who overtaxed the population and on one occasion returned an overpayment of taxes to Egypt.

WarsEuropean Campaign (1520's – 1530's):

Years: 1526Enemies: Hungary KingdomLocation: HungryMain events: Ottoman Empire military re-attacked Hungary beating and conquering its

king Louis ӏӏ; Austria and Hungary campaign began.Result: Ottoman Empire captured Belgrade. Years: 1529Enemies: ViennaLocation: ViennaMain events: Buda region was lost from Ottoman Empire and occupied by Austria;

Austria re-expelled from Buda and Hungary retaken by Ottoman Empire; Suleiman Ottoman Empire military forces were unsuccessful in capturing and surrounding Vienna to force it under its surrender.

Result: Ottoman Empire expansion did not reach Vienna high-water mark.

WarsEuropean Campaign (1520's – 1530's):

Years: 1521Enemies: Hungary KingdomLocation: HungaryMain events: Hungary was attacked by Ottoman Empire.Result: Ottoman Empire captured Belgrade.

Years: 1522Enemies: Rhodes EmpireLocation: Island of RhodesMain events: Rhodes was overcome, and taken control of by military force of the Ottoman

Empire. Result: Rhodes was under control of the Ottoman Empire.

Suleiman during the seige of rhodes

WarsThen, in 1530, Ottoman Empire controlled Europe where Suleiman was ruler over the west and

north Hungary.Ottoman-Safavid War:Years: (1532 – 1555)Enemies: Shi'ite Safavids of PersiaLocation: Iran and neighbor countries.Main events: In 1533 Ibrahim Pasha took over Bitlis, followed by Tabriz in 1534, and Baghdad in

1535 along with the sultan; So the first campaign was successful. Second campaign failed; Then the 3rd campaign (1553-1554) secured Baghdad and lowere

Mesopotamia regions.Result: Ottoman Empire captured Baghdad and some regions around.

Ottoman safavid war

WarsIndian Ocean Campaigns:Years: (1538 – 1552)Enemies: Portugeseshippings at sea in DiuLocation: Indian OceanMain events: Attack of Portugese in Diu (1538) and Hormuz in 1552 were unsuccessful. Result: Could not extend the Ottoman Empire to the Indian Ocean. Mediterranean and North

Africa Campaigns:Years: (1542 – 1565)Enemies: Spain and King Charles 5.Location: Mediterranean and north Africa. Main events: In 1543, Franco-Ottoman alliance; Italian War (1542-1546); Expansion of the

Ottoman Empire in North Africa by taking over wahran and Bizerta in 1556 and 1557, and Jerba in 1560.

Result: Ottoman Empire captured Wahran, Bizerta, and Jerba in North Africa expanding its regions.

Ottoman fleet in the Indian Ocean

Duel before the Battle of Mohács

Succession And legacySuccession:

Sultan Suleiman's two wives (Hürrem and Mahidevran) had borne him six sons, four of whom survived past the 1550s. They were Mustafa, Selim, Bayezid, and Jahangir.

The Austrian ambassador Busbecq would note,

‘’Suleiman has among his children a son called Mustafa, marvelously well educated and prudent and of an age to rule, since he is 24 or 25 years old; may God never allow a Barbary of such strength to come near us", going

on to talk of Mustafa's "remarkable natural gifts.’’

Legacy:

At the time of Suleiman's death, the Ottoman Empire was one of the world's foremost powers. Suleiman's conquests had brought under the control of the Empire the major Muslim cities

(Mecca,Medina, Jerusalem, Damascus, Cairo, and Baghdad), many Balkan provinces (reaching present day. Croatia and Austria), and most of North Africa.

Suleiman's legacy was not, however, merely in the military field. They are not a century later bears witness to the "strong agricultural base of the country, the well being of the peasantry, the abundance of staple foods, and the pre-eminence of organization in Suleiman's government“

However, after his death, the Ottoman Empire entered into a state of decline and stagnation during the reign of Sultan Selim II and later sultans.

The Ottoman conquests of Europe were ended permanently by major defeats such as the Battle of Lepanto and the Battle of Vienna. As the years passed, the Ottoman Empire slowly turned into a shadow of its former glory.

Meanwhile, the Christian powers in Europe gradually regained their might, gaining new technologies and weapons for their armies until the Empire's dissolution during the reign of Mehmed VI, the last Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, who was removed after World War I.

Death• Date of death: Passed on September 5-6-7th 1566• Place: Szigetvar, Hungary• The indefinite date of his death• His ultimate goal in that campaign "The 13th military campaign"• Place of burial: Suleymaniye Mosque, Constantinople

Searching for his heart:Legend has it that the Grand Vizier had the sultan's body secretly embalmed and that

he even had the sultan's physician and the embalmers strangled to seal their lips. He even spent the several weeks hiding the nes of the sultan's death by issuing orders on Suleiman's behalf.

At the time of Suleiman's death, the Ottoman Empire was one of the world's foremost powers. Suleiman's conquests had brought under the control of the Empire the major Muslim cities (Mecca, Medina, Jerusalem, Damascus, Cairo, and Baghdad), many Balkan provinces (reaching present day Croatia and Austria), and most of North Africa.

Even thirty years after his death "Sultan Solyman" was quoted by the English playwright William Shakespeare as a military prodigy in The Merchant of Venice (Act 2, Scene 1).

References• http://

www.theguardian.com/travel/2013/dec/09/a-day-in-cihangir-istanbul-turkey

• http://www.allaboutturkey.com/suleyman.htm• http://

www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Suleiman.aspx• http://

www.poetrysoup.com/suleiman_the_magnificent

• http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Suleiman.aspx

• http://factsanddetails.com/asian/cat65/sub424/item2683.html

• http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Suleiman_the_Magnificent#Achievements

• http://www.gojerusalem.com/article/277/Suleiman-the-Magnificient--Builder-of-Ottoman-Jerusalem/

• http://factsanddetails.com/asian/cat65/sub424/item2683.html

• Lewis, Bernard. Islam and the West. New York: Oxford University Press, 1993. ISBN 0195090611